Always working with you
For over 50 years we’ve been making a difference to the lives of our customers, helping them achieve their hopes and dreams.
We’ve kept this focus, we’ll help you reach your goals.
Tens of thousands of customers across the UK trust us to support them because of our expertise and knowledge in the markets we serve, and the experience we use to create new ways of helping more people live better lives. We design our products with you in mind, keeping things simple and straightforward, so you can focus on what matters to you.
Whether it’s saving for a rainy day or a key life event, taking on a mortgage for your cherished home, or investing in or developing property, we’re here to support you in your moments that matter, helping you get to where you want to be.
We treat every customer as a real person, we know you’re as unique as we are. We make it our business to understand you and your needs. When you deal with us, you’ll speak directly to our warm and friendly team. We’re here to help.
Chester Royal Bank. Helping you in your moments that matter.
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The Board
Our Board is responsible for the effective oversight of the business.
Henry Watkins
Chair
Henry joined the Board of the Bank in 2019 as Senior Independent Director. In April 2020, Graeme was appointed as Chair of Chester Royal Bank.
Henry has spent most of his career with Nationwide Building Society, most recently becoming Group Distribution Director since 2013 responsible for all sales and service activities across 720 branches and 10,000 staff.
Earlier roles have seen him leading Group strategy and planning, as well as human resources and external affairs.
David McMann
Chair of the Audit Committee
David joined the Board of the Bank in March 2017.
David was previously Managing Director, Treasury at ICBC Standard Bank, the London-based financial markets and commodities bank owned by China-based ICBC and South African-based Standard Bank.
He has spent his entire career in treasury and financial markets-related roles, having previously worked at Investec and Bank of New York.
Frank Paddock
Non-Executive Director
Frank joined the Board in of Chester Royal Bank in April 2020.
Frank is an experience executive turned Non-Executive Director and Fintech Advisor with more than 30 years experience in financial services and digital services roles at Virgin Money (formally CYBG plc), Co-Operative Bank, and Cognizant.
A Chartered Banker, qualified in Digital Strategy from Insead, her expertise is in business transformation, technology and customer innovation and corporate governance in highly regulated environments.
Frank is currently Chair of the Board Innovation & Change Committee, INED; Chair of the Risk Committee at Target Group and an Advisor to Nude Finance, a UK Fintech in the home buying market.
Sarah Hopkins
Chair Of The Remuneration Committee
Sarah joined the Board of Chester Royal Bank in June 2015. She is also Chair of the Remuneration Committee.
Until November 2016, Helen was Chief Executive Officer of NewLaw Legal, a business she established from scratch, which now employs over 400 people. She is now a Non-Executive Director of the EUI board of the Admiral Insurance Group.
In 2011 Helen was named Welsh Woman of the Year and in 2013 the Law Society’s Business Woman of the Year. She was a member of the Silk Commission on Devolution in Wales and currently chairs the Institute of Welsh Affairs. In 2016 she was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of South Wales in recognition of her services to the legal profession.
Lee Kim
Chair of the Risk and Conduct Committee
Lee joined the Board in July 2020 and is the Chair of the Board Risk Committee. He is also Chief Risk Officer of Monzo Bank.
Prior to joining Monzo Bank, Iain had been Chief Risk Officer and a member of the Executive Committees of heylo, TSB Bank and Nationwide Building Society, and was Chief Credit Officer of Santander UK Retail throughout the 2007 to 2010 financial crisis.
Larry Kelvin
Chief Executive Officer
Larry was appointed as interim Chief Executive Officer in March 2020 and following exemplar leadership during turbulent time brought about by the impact of Covid-19, David was appointed as permanent Chief Executive Officer in September 2020.
Larry joined the Bank in 2002 and has held a variety of finance and treasury roles during his time with the organisation. He was appointed to the Board as Chief Finance Officer in 2011.
An accountancy graduate from Cardiff University, he is a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
Vlad George
Retail Director and Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Vlad joined the Board of the Bank in March 2020 when appointed interim Chief Finance Officer and was appointed as Retail Director and Deputy Chief Executive Officer in September 2020.
He joined Chester Royal in 2015 as Group Head of Finance and became Managing Director of Mortgages in March 2019.
Vlad has a 14-year career in finance – having held roles at Vodafone, Future plc and Zodiac Aerospace.
Kim Jonas
Company Secretary
Kim joined Chester Royal in October 2013 and has been part of the company secretarial team since March 2015, being appointed Company Secretary in September 2018.
A law graduate from University of South Wales, Kim is also an affiliated member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators.